School Tours

The DISCOVERY, staffed by enthusiastic marine educators, delivers powerful, hands-on student tours and experiences. Share aquatic habitats with your students from the best possible vantage – a 65′ floating classroom! The boat comfortably handles group sizes up to 49 with easy access loading and inside seating for all. Experience the estuary or ocean using the latest in navigation and research technology; including interactive labs, video microscopy, and on-board computer, rain or shine.

We welcome pre-K – 12th grade student sailors. All of our student tours are designed to accommodate different grade levels and meet the Oregon Common Curriculum Goals standards. Programming can be adapted for students with special needs.

The DISCOVERY is operated by licensed, experienced captains and meets the latest United States Coast Guard standards.

Marine Discovery Tours supports education with its many memberships including:

Oregon Science Teachers Association

The Oregon PTA

Oregon Recreation and Parks Association

Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators

Lincoln County Interpretative Association

Pricing

One Hour Programs

One Hour Sea Life Cruise

Take your students on a marine experience they’ll never forget! We will look for marine mammals and birds in their natural environment as we learn about these friends of the DISCOVERY. Learn about animals living in the estuary while conducting a crab pot pull. Compare and view plankton samples that your students collect using the magic of video microscopy. Visit the wheelhouse and learn about the latest in navigational technology, including our satellite-linked, on-board computer. Our Captain follows a variable route of ocean, estuary, and river, based on safety – a guaranteed boating experience!

One Hour Estuary Crabbing Cruise

What’s so important about water? Students find out in this hands-on introductory program. Learn about animals living in the estuary while conducting crab pot pulls. Talk about the health of an estuary food chain and adaptations while collecting and viewing plankton through the magic of video microscopy. Visit the largest commercial fishing fleet on the Oregon Coast as the captain explains the different types of vessels. Watch California Sea Lions in their natural habitat. Enter the wheelhouse and learn about the latest in navigational technology, including our satellite-linked on-board computer.

Two Hour Programs

Two Hour Estuary Cruise

Experience the world of a research scientist while exploring an estuary above and below the waterline. Conduct a bottom trawl, learning about the different types of fish an invertebrates that call the estuary home as your students identify and sort the catch. Collect and view plankton using the on-board video microscope. Visit the largest commercial fishing fleet ion the Oregon Coast as the captain explains the different types of vessels. Watch California Sea Lions in their natural habitat. Enter the wheelhouse and learn about the latest in navigational technology, including our satellite-linked, on-board computer, while helping the captain steer the boat.

Two Hour Explorer Cruise

Share the best of both worlds! Conduct a bottom trawl in the bay, learning about the different types of fish and invertebrates that call the estuary home as your students identify and sort. Compare ocean and estuary plankton that the students collect, using the onboard video microscope. Learn about whale behavior and current research, marine birds and other wildlife seen in the ocean and estuary. Visit the wheelhouse and view the latest in navigational technology, including our satellite linked, on-board computer, while helping he captain steer the boat. The ocean portion of this program is offered as conditions permit.

Two Hour Sea Life Cruise

Search for all kinds of sea life – whales, harbor porpoise, seals, sea lions, and marine birds – and learn about them from our knowledgeable and fun naturalist guides. Compare plankton tows conducted by the students using the onboard video microscope. Visit the wheelhouse and view the latest in navigational technology while helping the captain steer the boat. Our Captain follows a variable route of ocean, estuary, and river, based on safety – a guaranteed boating experience! For BEST weather and sighting conditions, we recommend March – May and September for classroom trips.

What our customers are saying:

I remembered going on a school field trip when I was little to this place, and having an absolute blast! So 15+ years later I went again as an adult this 4th of July and it was just as much fun!
― Christiane B. - via Yelp!